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Header image: 11th July 1957, RAF Biggin Hill: The formal announcement of the formation of the Historic Aircraft Flight is made by the AOC-in-C Fighter Command, Air Marshal Sir Thomas Pike KCB CBE DFC and Bar. The three pilots who flew the Flight’s first Spitfires into Biggin Hill that day stand behind him (left to right): Wing Commander Peter Thompson DFC, Group Captain James Rankin DSO and Bar DFC and Bar, and Group Captain J E ‘Johnnie’ Johnson DSO and two Bars DFC and Bar. 

This month, you could win a three-course dinner at the Petwood Hotel in Lincolnshire, which was the home of the RAF 617 ‘Dambusters’ Squadron during the Second World War.

The Petwood is very close to the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight’s Visitor Centre, so you could even combine the prize with a visit to see the BBMF’s aircraft. 

Don’t forget that if you are a member of the RAF Memorial Flight Club, you can claim a free tour of the aircraft hangar whenever you visit by showing your membership card. Please make sure you check the opening times on the BBMF Visitor Centre’s website before visiting.

How to enter the ballot

All current members of the Club have been entered into this month’s ballot. 

Header image: BBMF Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 outside the BBMF hangar at Coningsby on 1st June, wearing its new temporary ‘QJ-G’ code letters on its port side. The aircraft was about to be flown to RAF Valley in company with Spitfire Mk Vb AB910 for the Station’s Families Day. (photo: Clive Rowley)

As reported in the RAF Memorial Flight Official Club 2017 Yearbook, published in April, BBMF Spitfire Mk IIa P7350 and Hurricane LF363 have been painted with new code letters to celebrate four of the Battle of Britain fighter pilots, some of ‘The Few’, who are still alive today. Applied in a special temporary paint, covering the existing markings, the new code letters can easily be removed when required. The two BBMF aircraft will now appear with different code letters on each side of their fuselages for the 2017 display season.